2026 CAEE Advancing EE Conference: Full Schedule

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7:40am MDT

Friday September 18, 2026 7:40am - 8:40am MDT

Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor

Limited Capacity filling up

Up to 15 conference participants per session slow down outdoors on the CSU SPUR campus and along the river to immerse themselves in nature through the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, or literally translated, forest bathing. Bathing suits are not required, but you may want to bring water shoes and shorts. On this guided walk participants will be offered a series of invitations to open their senses and connect with the natural world. Shinrin-yoku, established and studied during the1980s Japan tech boom, provides numerous health benefits including but not limited to boosting the immune system, lowering stress levels, and improving cognitive function. During the final invitation, the tea ceremony, participants will be invited to discuss what they notice and how they might incorporate variants of forest bathing into their professional practices and personal lives.

Presenters

South Suburban Parks and Recreation

Park Interpreter, South Suburban Parks and Recreation

South Platte Park is a natural open space in Littleton with a "full service" nature center offering field trips, a traveling science van, adult education, camps, and professional development for the metro area.

Friday September 18, 2026 7:40am - 8:40am MDT
Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Connection to Nature/Health and Wellness

7:40am MDT

Waking up with Nature

Friday September 18, 2026 7:40am - 8:40am MDT

Hydro Lobby | Hydro Building 1st Floor

We will gather in the Hydro Building Lobby and then get outside!

Start the day off outside taking a walk along the South Platte River, and learn a bit about how the history of our urban landscape has impacted and our riparian ecosystem. It's a beautiful space full of life and challenges!

Presenters

Stefan Karg

Lead Specialist for Education and Engagement, Gardens on Spring Creek - City of Fort Collins

Stefan has been admiring the natural world of Colorado and beyond since he was a tiny kiddo. Growing up spending as much time as possible outside, it became a life passion to share our incredible world with everyone that would listen. As a long time environmental educator, he recently... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 7:40am - 8:40am MDT
Hydro Lobby | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Connection to Nature/Health and Wellness

7:40am MDT

CAEE Annual Member Meeting

Friday September 18, 2026 7:40am - 8:40am MDT

Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

The Annual Member Meeting is an opportunity to meet our new director, learn about state and national initiatives, catch up on CAEE news, and provide direction for EE in Colorado. We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of environmental and outdoor educators and organizations. Join us to provide your feedback on the most important things CAEE can be doing to support you!

Friday September 18, 2026 7:40am - 8:40am MDT
Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Skills and Professional Learning

8:00am MDT

Conference Check-In

Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am MDT

Hydro Lobby | Hydro Building 1st Floor

Presenters

Sarah Grove

Communications & Event Coordinator, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Sarah Grove (she, her) joined the CAEE team in January 2025. Sarah grew up exploring the outdoors in Vermont and Central New York; this is where her love of nature began. Sarah earned a degree in Wildlife Ecology & Management from Auburn University, where she learned about the unique... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 8:00am - 8:45am MDT
Hydro Lobby | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

9:00am MDT

Moving Toward Kinship: Integrating the More-Than-Human Voice Into EE

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

What if interspecies communication were a cultivable orientation, not a fringe phenomenon? Drawing on original dissertation research, this session presents eight themes characterizing the movement toward genuine kinship with the more-than-human world, and explores how educators can shape curriculum and practice around them. Leave with practices you can use.

Presenters

Deb Matlock, Wild Rhythms, LLC

Founder, Environmental Educator, Wild Rhythms, LLC

Wild Rhythms offers nature connection, spiritual ecology, and practitioner mentorship rooted in nearly 30 years of listening with the more-than-human world. Programs support environmental educators, naturalists, and guides in deepening their practice and stepping into their own distinctive... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Connection to Nature/Health and Wellness

9:00am MDT

Outside the Lines: When They Won’t Engage

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor

What happens when students won’t engage? This session explores how nature-based approaches reduce pressure and support authentic social connection for neurodivergent middle schoolers. Learn practical, play-based strategies to meet students where they are, build trust, and foster communication without forcing participation.

**Plan on getting outside in this session!

Presenters

Mandy Casteel-Denney

Owner and Educator, Blue Tulip Inclusive Education

Mandy Casteel-Denney, M.Ed., is an educator, speaker, and founder of Blue Tulip Inclusive Education. With over 20 years in education and lived experience raising a neurodivergent family, she facilitates nature-based groups that support social connection, communication, and confidence... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Connection to Nature/Health and Wellness

9:00am MDT

Outdoor, Place-Based Strategies for Trauma and Neurodiversity

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Students affected by trauma and neurodiverse learners often struggle in traditional classroom environments that rely heavily on sitting, sustained attention, and rigid structures. Outdoor learning environments can provide powerful opportunities for regulation, engagement, and meaningful learning.In this session, participants will explore how nature-based and outdoor education approaches can support students with trauma histories, ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, and twice-exceptionality. Drawing from nearly a decade of experience leading Colorado’s outdoor, nature-based education movement and working with neurodiverse learners, Megan Patterson will share practical strategies for using outdoor environments to support emotional regulation, executive functioning, social development, and academic engagement.

Presenters

Megan Patterson

Executive Director, Worldmind Nature Immersion School

Megan Patterson is the Founder and Executive Director of Worldmind School, an outdoor, place-based, non-profit independent school in Denver serving students from preschool through 12th grade, and the Founder of Beyond Exceptional, which provides free homeschool enrichment programs... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Early Childhood Outdoor and Environmental Learning

9:00am MDT

Brightspot | Advancing CSU’s Land Grant Mission Through Nature & Health Initiatives

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

CSU Extension is charting a bold new path in the emerging field of Nature & Health. Through innovative, accessible programs and partnerships, Extension is helping people across Colorado connect with the outdoors as a source of health, resilience, and healing and offering experiences that nurture belonging and strengthen community wellbeing.

**This session will be shared with one or two other mini, brightspot sessions.

Presenters

Sue Schneider

Extension State Health Specialist, Colorado State University Extension

Sue Schneider, Ph.D. is a medical anthropologist and community health specialist with over 20 years of experience designing and evaluating community-based programs. As an Extension Professor and Sate Health Specialist with Colorado State University’s Office of Engagement and Extension... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

EE for All

9:00am MDT

eeHigher Education In-Person Meeting

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

TBA

Presenters

Sarah Grove

Communications & Event Coordinator, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

PreK-12 Education

9:00am MDT

Brightspot | What Changes When Learning Becomes Relational?

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

This roundtable explores experiential learning as a relational practice grounded in story, place, and connection to the more-than-human world. Participants will engage in dialogue around shifting from content delivery to relational approaches, sharing challenges, practices, and possibilities for integrating experiential, place-based learning into diverse educational settings.

**This session will be shared with one or two other mini, brightspot sessions.

Presenters

Jamie Moon

Adjunct Professor of Arts, Humanities, and Soft Psychologies. Practicing Eco-artist and Ecopsychologist, Pueblo community college and CSU-Pueblo

Jamie Moon is an ecopsychologist, eco-artist, educator, and doctoral researcher whose work explores how story, art, and direct engagement with the natural world can transform how we learn and relate. She is a lifelong educator who currently teaches in higher education and has worked... Read More →

Relational Learning Booklet. PDF pdf

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Skills and Professional Learning

9:00am MDT

Helping Every Teen See Themselves in Green Careers

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT

Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Imagine if every teen understood how their interests, talents, and passions could lead to a meaningful career with opportunities to care for the environment. Explore the newly expanded and redesigned Green Pathways website and brand new classroom ready tools to help you integrate career exploration and workforce readiness into your instruction.

Presenters

Lisa Eadens

Program Coordinator, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Lisa grew up in a small mountain town on Colorado’s Western Slope where she developed a love for outdoor recreation and a respect for our natural world. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Davidson College and an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am MDT
Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

10:15am MDT

Keynote: Visual Thinking with Dr. Temple Grandin

Friday September 18, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT

Confluence Theater | Hyrdo Building 1st Floor

We are profoundly honored to welcome world-renowned author, advocate, and CSU professor Dr. Temple Grandin as our 2026 keynote speaker. In this inspiring address, Dr. Grandin will dive into the core concepts of her transformative book, Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions.

For too long, our educational and professional systems have leaned heavily on verbal thinking, often overlooking those who perceive the world through structure, imagery, and spatial relationships. Dr. Grandin argues that a world relying on only one type of mind is a world ill-equipped to solve its most pressing crises. To ground our work in our common roots and truly cultivate community care, we must understand and champion neurodiversity.

Complex ecological challenges—from sustainable agriculture to resource conservation—require a collective tapestry of diverse thinkers. Object visualizers, spatial pattern-seekers, and verbal thinkers must collaborate to build the safe, healthy future our living landscapes deserve. As environmental and outdoor learning professionals, you are uniquely positioned to unlock these hidden gifts in your learners. Dr. Grandin’s insights will redefine how you view education, communication, and problem-solving, offering invaluable tools to reach and inspire every type of mind in your programs.

Join us for a fascinating exploration of how thinking differently is not just an asset, but a strict necessity for collective action. Prepare to leave this session with a renewed sense of empathy, a deeper understanding of human potential, and a whole new lens through which to see the world.

Presenters

Dr. Temple Grandin

Dr. Grandin did not talk until she was three and a half years old. She was fortunate to get early speech therapy. Her teachers also taught her how to wait and take turns when playing board games. She was mainstreamed into a normal kindergarten at age five. Oliver Sacks wrote... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am MDT
Confluence Theater | Hyrdo Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

EE for All

11:30am MDT

Beyond the Pages: Meet & Sign with Dr. Temple Grandin

Friday September 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm MDT

Confluence Theater | Hyrdo Building 1st Floor

Want to dive deeper into the power of visual thinking? Fresh off the keynote stage, Dr. Temple Grandin is hosting a special book signing session. Swing by to chat with fellow attendees in line, and get your copy personalized by Dr. Grandin herself. Whether you’re an educator looking to unlock hidden gifts in your students or just a fan of her legendary work, this is your moment to meet one of the most influential minds of our time. Space and time are limited, so come ground your roots and grab your signature!

Presenters

Dr. Temple Grandin

Friday September 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm MDT
Confluence Theater | Hyrdo Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

11:30am MDT

LUNCH

Friday September 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT

Hydro Lobby | Hydro Building 1st Floor

Enjoy a self serve lunch in the lobby of the Hydro Building. You are welcome to take your lunch outside or throughout the CSU Spur Campus.

**Please be mindful of those with dietary restrictions and general lunch supplies. We will have over 200 people eating with you.

Friday September 18, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm MDT
Hydro Lobby | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

12:45pm MDT

Leveraging Invertebrates to Break Barriers in Environmental Education

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor

Ask someone why they might not want to join you on a camping trip– “bugs” is almost guaranteed to make their list of reasons. As outdoor educators and conservationists, we can transform negative outlooks on our invertebrate neighbors, creating a powerful tool for inclusion and investment in conservation.

**Plan on getting outside during this session!

Presenters

Annalise Goeke

Outdoor Educator

Through years of working in and around the sphere of formal education, as well as weekends spent deep in the woods, Annalise Goeke found herself drawn to work in Environmental Education in an attempt to combine passion and profession. She took a leap of faith and moved cross-country... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Conservation

12:45pm MDT

Guidestone Games; creating new experiences through play

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Join Guidestone Colorado in discovering the power of play. We believe that games are a central part of learning and our education model. Through this session, you will play one of our new games,' The Garden is full of Life', which is a life-sized board game that teaches students all about farming and gardening. Come ready to play and brainstorm new ways to teach in your outdoor classroom. Creativity and ideas are welcome!

**This session has the potential to get outside, come prepared!

Presenters

Maytal Agasi

Garden Educator, Guidestone Colorado

Tracy Green

Education Director, Guidestone Colorado

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Early Childhood Outdoor and Environmental learning

12:45pm MDT

Social and Environmental Impact Assessment Toolkit for School Gardens

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

CU Boulder graduate consultants developed a literature-informed toolkit with SustainEd Farms to evaluate school garden impact. Explore methods and take home adaptable tools to measure and communicate outcomes.

Presenters

Camille Britt

CU Boulder Graduate Consultant, SustainEd Farms

Sustain Ed Farms, a local non-profit that runs school gardens in the Denver Public School District, is working three graduate student consultants from University of Colorado Boulder’s Master of the Environment program. Jake Meltzer has a variety of farm and restaurant experience... Read More →

Jacob Meltzer

Graduate Research Consultant, SustainEd Farms

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

EE for All

12:45pm MDT

Bringing outdoor education into the classroom

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

This session explores how environmental educators can bring outdoor learning into indoor classrooms while maintaining engagement and effective classroom management. Drawing on our experience teaching with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in public elementary schools, we address the growing challenge of student behavioral and emotional needs.Participants will engage in real-world scenarios to collaboratively problem-solve classroom challenges, share experiences, and develop practical strategies they can apply immediately. Small group discussions will highlight both struggles and successes, fostering a supportive learning community.We also emphasize the long-term benefits of integrating environmental education into weekly instruction, helping build environmental literacy from an early age. Attendees will leave with concrete tools and increased confidence to teach environmental education in a classroom setting effectively.

Presenters

Chloe Comcowich

Environmental Educator, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

Chloe Comcowich grew up in the hills of Vermont and New Hampshire where she gained an excitement for the outdoors, environmental stewardship, skiing, and kindness towards all. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelors in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources in... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

PreK-12 Education

12:45pm MDT

Finding Your Path in Environmental Education: EE Leader Panel

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Are you new to the field of environmental education with less than five years of experience? Do you have questions about building a long-term career in the EE field? Join us to hear from EE leaders about paths to success and how to stand out as you advance your career.

Presenters

Lisa Eadens

Program Coordinator, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Erin Dreps

eeCorps Program Coordinator, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Erin Dreps is the eeCorps Program Coordinator at CAEE. A graduate of the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability, Erin has worked in various roles in EE, from seasonal educator to school programs manager, and now supports AmeriCorps members serving across... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Skills and Professional Learning

12:45pm MDT

What's the Dirt on DIGS?

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT

Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

During this session, you’ll learn about DIGS (Developing Individuals, Growing Stewards) an interactive, agricultural literacy and environmental education curriculum designed for the 3rd through 5th grade audience. Get moving with our hands-on activities, then take home the materials to share what you’ve learned with your students.

Presenters

Toby Swaford

4-H STEM State Specialist, Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Toby Swaford has specialized in informal educational programming for over 30-years. He has designed interactive, hands-on experiences for a variety of zoos, aquariums, and museums; as well as serving as the STEAM program manager for the Denver Comic Con. He currently works for Colorado... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm MDT
Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

2:00pm MDT

Moving Beyond Translation: Promoting Inclusive Environmental Education

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Moving beyond translation, this session explores how bilingual environmental education can cultivate true belonging for multilingual learners. Grounded in practices from Denver Botanic Gardens’ school and camp programs, participants will examine asset-based language strategies, culturally responsive plant connections, and family-inclusive engagement models. Educators will leave with practical tools to design learning environments where multilingual students are empowered as scientists and environmental stewards.

Presenters

Esperanza Rodriguez

Assistant Manager of School and Camp Programs, Denver Botanic Gardens

Esperanza Rodriguez, Assistant Manager of School and Camp Programs at Denver Botanic Gardens, promotes belonging in environmental education and aims to eliminate barriers for diverse communities. She focuses on igniting curiosity in young learners and provides innovative resources... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Conservation

2:00pm MDT

Field Notes & Future Leaders: Engaging Middle and High School Students in Community-Based Environmental Learning

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor

This session explores effective strategies for engaging middle and high school students in environmental education programs outside of school hours, highlighting both common challenges and successful approaches from real-world practice. The session will highlight examples of program models, participant feedback, and adaptations made to programs, and provide time for participants to identify barriers within their own contexts and brainstorm actionable strategies they can implement.

**Plan on getting outside during this session!

Presenters

Andrea Aust

Education Director, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

Andrea's career came full circle in 2019 when she returned to ACES—the site of her first "dream job" as a naturalist—to oversee ACES' education programs. Prior to her current role at ACES, she worked at KQED, the San Francisco Bay Area's public media station, developing science... Read More →

Phebe Meyers

Community Programs Senior Manager, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

EE for All

2:00pm MDT

English Class as a Climate Solution: Building Interdepartmental Partnerships for Systemic Change

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Join us to explore how an innovative partnership between Sustainability and Humanities is reshaping how high school English students address climate issues in Denver Public Schools. Attendees will walk away with concrete strategies for how to build interdepartmental partnerships to empower climate action and increase student’s access to the Seal of Climate Literacy diploma endorsement in their school district.

Presenters

Jordan Allen

Sustainability Engagement Manager, Denver Public Schools

Jordan oversees the Denver Public Schools Engagement Team, which integrates sustainable practices into schools through climate curriculum, student-led sustainability projects, and school gardens. With over ten years of experience in Denver Public Schools as a coach, teacher, and leader... Read More →

Anne Marie Blieszner

Literacy Curriculum Specialist, Denver Public Schools

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

PreK-12 Education

2:00pm MDT

The Transformative Praxis Lab: Auditing for Climate Literacy Impact

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Move beyond awareness to systemic action. Use the Wild Rose Education Transformative Praxis Lab to audit your programs for alignment with Colorado’s Climate Literacy priorities. Practice Ethical Observation visual routines that remove learning barriers and identify Action Gaps to transform your teaching and programs into an engine for relational care and civic change.

Presenters

Sarah Johnson

Founder and Director, Wild Rose Education

Sarah R. Johnson is the architect of the Transformative Praxis Lab, a methodology used to design climate literacy systems for educators and learners alike. As the lead facilitator of Teach Climate Colorado and a specialist in eeCourse Design, along with directing the Colorado Youth... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

PreK-12 Education

2:00pm MDT

Leading is a story you tell

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Leaders have to storytell and find ways to connect with constituents, employees, collaborators and stakeholder. What stories are we making that create understanding and connection? How much time do we afford when art becomes the vehicle for making community? When do we share poems, memoirs and stories for strategic goals? Franklin Cruz will lead through different exercises and strategies for how art can make leaders more effective and more important more human. Learn how metaphor, audience and other writing techniques can increase your success while having fun!

Presenters

Franklin Cruz

facilitator, Grounded Voces

Franklin Cruz is a queer latin dancer, poet born in Idaho, raised Texan and polished in Denver. Born from an immigrant family his work has placed him in science museums, environmental spaces, as an emcee and poet for dance & poetry competitions and conferences. They aim for specificity... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Skills and Professional Learning

2:00pm MDT

What Comes Next? - Teen Engagement Programs

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

From storytimes to summer camps, kids love being at The Gardens. As the years go by, they start to wonder...what comes next when they get to middle or high school? This session explores stewardship focused programs that bridge the gap and keep teens engaged in their passion for the outdoors.

Presenters

Hannah Krikorian

Volunteer Coordinator, The Gardens on Spring Creek, City of Fort Collins

Hannah Krikorian is the Volunteer Coordinator at The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she’s been working with volunteers for the past seven years. Prior to coordinating volunteers, she spent time in environmental education at The Gardens and Walt Disney World... Read More →

Britt Mowen

Youth Programs Coordinator, Gardens on Spring Creek - City of Fort Collins

Britt Mowen is the Youth and Teen Programs Coordinator at The Gardens on Spring Creek botanic garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has been through many roles during her time at The Gardens including volunteer, education intern, seasonal teen mentor, and now coordinator. Her primary... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

3:15pm MDT

Common Roots, Different Views: Cultivating Community Conversations

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Move beyond the "what" of natural resources to the "who." Using PLT’s Discover Your Urban Forest, we’ll trade field guides for stakeholder perspectives. Learn to facilitate multi-perspective dialogue on land-use and equity. This hands-on session equips any educator to help learners make environmental connections with their home community settings.

Presenters

Project Learning Tree Colorado

Conservation and Youth Education Specialist, Colorado State Forest Service

Project WET and Project Learning Tree are leaders in environmental education, offering hands-on activities grounded in their distinct environmental focuses. Together, they equip Colorado educators and learners with engaging resources that build forest literacy, water stewardship... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Willow Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Conservation

3:15pm MDT

Observation as the roots of teaching EE.

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor

Observation helps us connect to nature. Teaching how to look closely at the world helps us understand big, complicated ideas through real-life experience. We practice observation activities that turn participants from quiet listeners into active explorers then discuss how to connect observation activities to your own lessons. Please bring your ideas and questions to share with the group!

**Plan on getting outside during this session!

Presenters

Angela Borland

Natural History Program Specialist, Boulder County Parks & Open Space

In Colorado I have worked with Boulder County, Larimer County, the City of Arvada and Cal-Wood Education Center. I have been working in Outdoor and Environmental Education for over 30 years with time spent in the upper midwest and New England as well as Colorado. I love working with... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Hydro Teaching Lab | Hydro Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

EE for All

3:15pm MDT

Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher: Sustaining the Cultures of Young Children

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Culturally responsive teaching begins with understanding your own lens and honoring the cultures children bring into your program. From NAEYC's new book "Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher: Sustaining the Cultures of Young Children" this session will provide clear explanations of culturally responsive practices and why they matter to children’s sense of self and their learning and development. Through active learning and reflection practical examples will be presented that show how culturally responsive practices benefit children with a range of identities and contexts. This session will help educators see everyday teaching moments as opportunities to honor culture, build belonging, and support the learning and development of every child.

Presenters

Dr. Dorothy Shapland Rodriguez

Professor, MSU Denver

Dr. Dorothy Shapland Rodriguez is a Professor in the Special Education, Early Childhood, and Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education Department at the School of Education, Metropolitan State University of Denver. A nationally recognized expert in trauma-informed equity practices... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Rock Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

PreK-12 Education

3:15pm MDT

Following the Four Directions: Repair-Oriented Education Practices for Park Interpreters

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Reconnect learners with land and meaning through South Platte Park’s Following the Four Directions framework. Explore slow pedagogy, tracking as a way of knowing, storytelling, and dialogic learning—practical, place-based strategies that spark curiosity, foster relationships, and inspire ethical action in every park experience.

Presenters

Kevin P. O'Brien

School Programs Coordinator, South Suburban Parks and Recreation

Kevin P. O’Brien is the School Programs Coordinator at South Platte Park and the Carson Nature Center, where he designs and facilitates place-based environmental education experiences for students, educators, and community members. His work centers on holistic, justice-oriented... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Spring Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

PreK-12 Education

3:15pm MDT

Pika Data Detectives: Exploring Perspectives on AI Science Claims

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

A simplified data set on pikas and their behavior in the alpine tundra provides an opportunity for students to critically analyze data and interpret it based on a science claim created via a generative AI summary. Participants will receive a protocol template to create their own lessons using this format.

Presenters

Rob Payo

Educational Designer, UCAR Center for Science Education

Robert Payo is an Education Designer III and Lead for Mixed Media for SciEd. He facilitates professional learning for teachers at local and national levels in earth system science. Previously, Robert served as the Youth Education Director at Denver Urban Gardens and community... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Cottonwood Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

PreK-12 Education

3:15pm MDT

Water Education Exemplars Explained

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT

Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor

Today’s children will be adults in 2050, when the Colorado Water Plan will be fully implemented. In support of the plan and water literacy, we’ve built an external evaluation system, using the Guidelines for Excellence in EE. We’re identifying 100 "Water Education Exemplars" with a team of 35 youth evaluators.

Presenters

Matthew Greves

Solstice Impact Group

Alexia Lor

Youth Reviewer, Water Education Exemplars Project

Environmental science student passionate about applying classroom knowledge on water resources, sustainability, and ecological systems in real-world environmental challenges through hands on experience. Eager to expand and deepen understanding of environmental issues through collaborative... Read More →

Donny Roush

Project Manager, Colorado Watershed Assembly

As a career capstone after 30+ years in environmental education, I am leading the Water Education Exemplars Project which will -- for the first time -- create empirical evidence of quality for Colorado's water education programs and materials. Identifying the best of the best -- Water... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm MDT
Bear Creek | Hydro Building 2nd Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Youth Development

4:30pm MDT

Plenary | Branching Out: Taking Our Common Roots into the World

Friday September 18, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm MDT

Confluence Theater | Hyrdo Building 1st Floor

Our common roots are deep, and now it’s time to branch out! This closing plenary is all about turning two days of inspiration into a lifetime of community care and collective action. We will take a collaborative moment to look back at our favorite breakthroughs, swap final field notes, and commit to the steps necessary to build a more sustainable future across Colorado. Make sure you're in the room for our highly anticipated final door prize drawings—you just might walk away a winner! Let’s wrap up #CommonRoots2026 with a bang and head back to our communities ready to see, lead, and listen differently.

Presenters

Lauren Gibson

Executive Director, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Lauren Gibson began her journey with environmental education through Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program. Working with Roots & Shoots, Lauren created a small youth environmental grant program in her Indiana hometown, solidifying her dedication to helping young people find their... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 4:30pm - 5:00pm MDT
Confluence Theater | Hyrdo Building 1st Floor CSU Spur Campus | 4777 National Western Drive, Denver, CO 80216

Skills and Professional Learning

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